09-39 Urge creation of tax credits or benefits to Alaska Native corporations who voluntarily choose to create conservation easements

Published on November 10th, 2009

By ALEX DEMARBAN

Summary

AFN strongly supports the Alaska Native Conservation Parity Act of 2009 as introduced into Congress that allows ANCSA landowners to receive the same tax benefits provided to other landowners in the U.S.

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Full Text

RESOLUTION 09-39

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE EQUAL TAX CREDIT RIGHTS OR BENEFITS TO ALASKA NATIVE CORPORATIONS WHO VOLUNTARILY CHOOSES TO CREATE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

WHEREAS: ANCSA corporations have been seeking the tools to permanently protect significant historical or natural habitats, without impeding economic development; and

WHEREAS: ANCSA corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to oversee their lands for the long term benefit of their shareholders; and ANCSA corporations have been seeking the tools to permanently protect significant historical or natural habitats, without impeding economic development; and

WHEREAS: Congress granted to other Non-ANCSA land owners significant conservation easement tools and tax credit benefits that are up to ten times beyond what Congress has made available to ANCSA corporations; and

WHEREAS: Such a tool is the creation of a locally designed and controlled conservation easement which would encourage conservative focused development in significant historical or natural habitats without impeding economic development opportunities in the surrounding area, while still preserving only private access and ownership of critical habitats in support of traditional subsistence activities; and

WHEREAS: Such conservation easements created will continue to be subject to the consent of each Village and each Regional Corporations in order to equitably receive the superior tax credit benefits currently provided to other Non-ANCSA landowners; and

WHEREAS: There is a federal legislative proposal that has been recently introduced in Congress - the Alaska Native Conservation Parity Act of 2009 (S. 1673 and HR 3568) to allow ANCSA landowners to receive the same tax benefits now enjoyed by other private landowners in the United States; and

WHEREAS: The legislative proposal will allow ANCSA landowners to receive a 100 percent, 15 year tax credit equal to the appraised value of the easement; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Delegates of the 2009 Annual Convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives, Inc., that it strongly supports the Alaska Native Conservation Parity Act of 2009 as introduced into Congress which allows ANCSA landowners to receive the same tax benefits provided to other private landowners in the United States.

SUBMITTED BY: TYONEK NATIVE CORPORATION AND THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK

COMMITTEE ACTION: DO PASS

CONVENTION ACTION: PASSED